Re: 4.4 Sport vs Non Sport comparison (long) (archive)

Yup, damn roads in Boston are terrible too. No more friggin' sports cars, SOOOOOO not worth it. Maybe you are right. How many times will you drive agressively in your X5 in Manhattan or the I-XXX on-ramp...? Not much. But damn the looks are certainly improved with SP!!! Both for 4.4 and 3.0.

As Alpina22 mentioned before, my car is 4.4 Non SP and here's what my impressions were after we drove each other's X5s.

What I noticed first of all is how smooth Alpina22's X feels (meaning engine torque and sound are different from mine). The engine sound in mine is a little harsher and gear changes are a lot more noticeable. The only explanation i could come up with, is that mine is not broken in yet (and maybe that it's not an SP?).

Has anyone noticed that there's a slight delay (or hesitation) before the X reacts to the gas pedal? Well mine does in the "D" position, much less so in "D S". This is most noticeable when you start from a full stop. You press on the gas, nothing happens, and then after about a half of an inch, it reacts. Alpine22's didn't have this at all.

Suspension is different. Sport is NOT for everyone. If anyone rode in 5 series with and without SP you'll know what I mean. The biggest difference is that in X you sit, what, 20 or so inches higher, and with SP the car bounces you around that much more than the 5 series w/SP. Thus the complaints of the unexpecting. Without SP ride is smoother, less bouncy, but at the same time you loose that "tight" and sporty feeling of the car, ESPECIALLY during the hard cornering (I never imagined that the X could do cornering that well with SP! Thanks, Alpina22!!! No comparison here with non SP version). Having said all that, for all those not owning the X yet, keep in mind that even the Non SP X5 is still a B M W, and it rides like one. No comparison with Jeep, Toyota, Lexus, MB, MDX, and all others. X5 (even the Non SP) just handles better, more precise and a little firmer than the rest of the pack. I drove RX300, MB430, MDX, 4runner, Jeep GC (each for a couple of hours) and somewhat familiar with the feel of each.

Am I happy with my choice of a Non SP(NSP) X? Yes and no. Yes because i'm driving on notoriosly bad roads of Manhattan a lot and with NSP i just don't feel it as much. No because SP is just plain fun to drive. It feels exactly like 5 series w/SP, just a lot higher. Which one whould I choose now, - Non SP again because of the roads in my beloved New York City (and where exactly do those taxes go?)

Thanks to all participants of this board. Your comments, quarrels and responses to questions kept me glued to the board days and nights, quite an addiction, heh :)

-VaV

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